Utah Air Quality Plan Under Fire for Dropping Coal Plant Shutdown Deadline
At a public hearing, advocates called on Utah's Division of Air Quality to retain the 2027 shutdown date for coal units at the Intermountain Power Plant. The latest revision removes the enforceable closure date and rejects effective pollution controls, which critics say fails to meet regional haze requirements. The plant's emissions contribute to haze in national parks, and its continued operation is being considered due to interest from data centers.
The Intermountain Power Plant's coal units have been idle since last year, yet the proposed revision would remove the enforceable closure date that had been set for 2027. The plant's power was historically sold to California buyers under contracts that have since expired, though data centers have expressed interest in continued operation.
The EPA partially disapproved Utah's previous haze plan in August 2024, citing insufficient pollution reductions. Regional haze rules require visibility improvements in national parks, and IPP ranks among the largest contributors to haze affecting Utah's "Mighty Five" parks and areas as distant as Yosemite. The revision also rejects available pollution control technologies.
Removing the shutdown deadline could affect air quality in national parks that draw millions of visitors annually, potentially diminishing scenic views and the tourism revenue they support. Communities near the plant may face continued pollution exposure, while data center interests could prolong fossil fuel dependence. The outcome may signal how states balance environmental obligations against energy demands, influencing similar regional haze disputes elsewhere.